A Kidnapped Santa Claus
Ratings3
Average rating3.3
15
Ratings3
Average rating3.3
First published in 1904, "A Kidnapped Santa Claus" by L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz, describes the action of some uncommon events in the land of Santa. Not far from the Laughing Valley where Santa and all his magical helpers live, and beyond the Forest of Burzee, there stands a huge mountain that contains the Cave of Demons. Each demon has a specialty: Selfishness, Envy, Hatred, Malice, and Repentance. Because the promise of Santa puts all girls and boys on their best behavior, the demons have hardly any visitors to their caves. In order to remedy their dismal foot traffic, they conspire to kidnap Santa! But oh! even when it looks as if the demons might win, one can never underestimate the power of devoted (and magical!) friends. Adapted by Alex Robinson, author of several graphic novels, the action and menace of the tale will be enhanced and lightly spoofed. It seems a most appropriate treatment of Baum's work -- he was an author who often let his profound and unsettling meanings roil beneath the surface of his otherwise fanciful stories.
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For those not familiar with L. Frank Baum's Santa Claus, let's just say he has a different backstory than St. Nick living with elves at the North Pole that later generations have been raised on. Altogether, I think he is a pleasanter, less-commercial fellow; a little goody-two-shoes perhaps, but our fairy tale characters are not supposed to be nuanced.
In this short-story, the baddies try to kidnap Santa Claus to spoil Christmas for all the children. But, I don't suppose it's a spoiler to say that their plan fails. After all, Santa has friends.
